Research Interests

Our research group uses microanalytical techniques to study extraterrestrial materials in order to better understand the formation and evolution of our Solar System, as well as other stars.

We are analyzing returned samples from a comet, asteroidal regolith, lunar samples, solar wind, interplanetary dust particles, and meteorites. For example, in-situ isotopic analyses by secondary ion mass spectrometry of small grains from a comet have temporally constrained the transport of rocky material from the inner to the outer Solar System. We also employ electron-beam and synchrotron techniques to investigate, e.g., the interaction between an airless body and the space environment.